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Context: Social media platforms have effectively supplanted traditional information networks in India.
What are the benefits of social media?
Democratizing access to information, fostering community, increasing citizen participation and reducing the distance between ordinary people and decision-makers.
Why are there instances of misinformation on social media?
Social media platforms have adopted design choices that have led to a proliferation of misinformation. The consequent free flow of disinformation, hate and targeted intimidation has led to real-world harm and degradation of democracy in India: Mainstreamed anti-minority hate, polarized communities, and difficulty in establishing truth. This organized misinformation (disinformation) has a political and/or commercial agenda.
How to combat misinformation?
Understanding that it is a political problem: Content distribution and moderation are interventions in the political process. Hence, there is a need for a comprehensive transparency law to enforce relevant disclosures by social media platforms.
Three approaches to distribution that can be adopted by platforms: Constrain distribution to organic reach (chronological feed); take editorial responsibility for amplified content; or amplify only credible sources (irrespective of ideological affiliation).
What are the effects of social media on politics?
The notable effects of social media on our politics are:
First, social media has led to a dislocation of politics with people more focused on online engagement while real surroundings are ignored.
Second, serious engagement has been supplanted by “hot takes” and memes.
Way Forward:
Meaningful politics is rooted in local organization, discussion and negotiation. Social media’s structure and manner of use are choices that we must make as a polity after deliberation instead of accepting them.
Source: This post is created based on the article “Social media has a serious disinformation problem. But it can be fixed.” published on 11/April/2022 in The Indian Express.
